What Is Zyprexa® (Olanzapine)?
Developed by Eli Lilly & Company, Zyprexa® (Olanzapine) is a second generation antipsychotic drug that was approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration in 1996. Unlike first generation antipsychotic drugs, Zyprexa® effectively targeted specific chemicals responsible for psychotic behavior, blocking their transmittal and curbing many of the symptoms of neurological disorders. Although Zyprexa® use had some risks, it showed promise as a treatment for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the two specific disorders for which it was approved. By 2003, Zyprexa® was responsible for over one-third of Eli Lilly’s total sales, bringing in over $4 billion for the drug manufacturer. Much of this revenue resulted from prescriptions for “off-label” uses, or uses for which Zyprexa® was never approved by the FDA and which Eli Lilly could not promote. These off-label uses included treatment for stress, general depression, aggressive behavior, post-partum depression, and even
